Player power behind Nahuel Arrarte backflip

MITCH COHEN25 Aug 2014, 8:03 p.m.

Wolves coach Nahuel Arrarte said overwhelming support from within the playing group and around the club forced him into a stunning backflip on his decision to leave South Coast at season's end and re-sign for next year.

Wolves coach Nahuel Arrarte said overwhelming support from within the playing group and around the club forced him into a stunning backflip on his decision to leave South Coast at season's end and re-sign for next year.

The club announced on Monday the first-year coach had been retained for another season less than a month after Arrarte had told the organisation he would not be continuing.

Discussions with the club last Thursday following the Wolves's 1-0 FFA Cup loss to Central Coast Mariners encouraged the gaffer to have a drastic change of heart.

He had joined the club in April this year as a replacement for Richard Lloyd and said the abundance of young talent on the Wolves roster was a key contributor in his decision to stay.

"After the match on Wednesday, seeing the reaction of the players and a lot of people and getting phone calls from people I haven't even met ... it was quite overwhelming," Arrarte said.

"Obviously there is a lot of young players and, if you look at the match with the Mariners, we finished the game with five under-20s players. Having a lot of those boys coming and asking for me to stay was pretty overwhelming.

"That's why I thought I would be letting those boys down, because the job wasn't done. There is room for a lot of growth, hopefully."

Arrarte said the support from his young playing group was mirrored from numerous other parties around the club.

"There was overwhelming support from all angles. There was support from the community, the sponsors and the board and I just realised the job wasn't done yet," he said.

Arrarte won't be joined by assistant coach Michael Santalab next season, as he has opted to take a break from the coaching ranks.

Instead, under-20s coach Jason Spencer will step up to the mark in 2015.

"I look forward to working with him. He has a lot of experience in the Wollongong area, so it should be an exciting time ahead," Arrarte said.

Arrarte's appointment is undoubtedly a coup for the Wolves, as he lifted the club from bottom of the competition with just one point to eventually finish seventh after taking over.

This time around he will take charge from the preseason.

"The opportunity to do a whole preseason would assist us immensely," Arrarte said.

The appointment also puts an end to rumours Arrarte was on his way to former club Marconi.